Method and apparatus for detecting, regenerating and/or preventing defects in a solar panel installation

Abstract

The invention provides a method for detecting, regenerating and/or preventing defects in solar panels of a solar panel installation. In this method, a regeneration voltage is applied between the supporting structure in which the solar panels are mounted, and the negative pole of the solar panels, the positive pole of the solar panels, or both poles of the solar panels, being short-circuited. Additionally, the invention also provides an apparatus for performing said method, and a solar panel installation comprising said apparatus.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus that regenerates defects in solar panels of a solar panel installation, which solar panel installation comprises:
 at least one solar panel comprising at least one photovoltaic cell or a plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein the at least one solar panel has a negative pole and a positive pole, 
 at least one supporting structure in which the at least one solar panel is mounted, wherein the apparatus comprises the following: 
 at least one voltage supply that applies a regeneration voltage between the at least one solar panel and the at least one supporting structure, the regeneration voltage being sufficient to regenerate said defects in the solar panels of the solar panel installation, 
 a first circuit that establishes and disconnects an electrical connection between a first pole of the at least one voltage supply and the at least one supporting structure, and 
 a second circuit that establishes and disconnects an electrical connection between a second pole of the at least one voltage supply and at least one of the poles of the at least one solar panel, and 
 wherein the solar panel installation further comprises an electrical connection between the at least one solar panel and an electricity grid, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a third circuit that establishes and disconnects the electrical connection between the at least one solar panel and the electricity grid; and 
 wherein the solar panel installation comprises at least one converter, said at least one converter being located between the at least one solar panel and the electricity grid and electrically connected to both, and wherein said at least one converter converts a DC voltage of the at least one solar panel to an AC voltage to be supplied to the electricity grid, and 
 wherein the third circuit interrupts the electrical connection between both the negative pole and the positive pole of the at least one solar panel and the converter when the regeneration voltage is applied between the at least one solar panel and the at least one supporting structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising at least one power meter to determine the power drawn by the at least one solar panel from the at least one voltage supply, said power meter being electrically connected to and located between the at least one solar panel and the at least one voltage supply. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising at least one controller that controls the apparatus, said controller being in communication with the at least one voltage supply and the first circuit, the second circuit, and the third circuit. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus detects defects in solar panels of a solar panel installation. 
     
     
       5. A solar panel system comprising:
 a solar panel installation that includes at least one solar panel; and 
 an apparatus that regenerates defects in the at least one solar panel of the solar panel installation, 
 wherein the solar panel installation includes
 the at least one solar panel that includes at least one photovoltaic cell or a plurality of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein the at least one solar panel has a negative pole and a positive pole, and 
 at least one supporting structure in which the at least one solar panel is mounted, 
 
 wherein the apparatus includes
 at least one voltage supply that applies a regeneration voltage between the at least one solar panel and the at least one supporting structure, the regeneration voltage being sufficient to regenerate said defects in the solar panels of the solar panel installation, 
 a first circuit that establishes and disconnects an electrical connection between a first pole of the at least one voltage supply and the at least one supporting structure, and 
 a second circuit that establishes and disconnects an electrical connection between a second pole of the at least one voltage supply and at least one of the poles of the at least one solar panel, and 
 
 wherein the solar panel installation further includes an electrical connection between the at least one solar panel and an electricity grid, and 
 wherein the apparatus further includes a third circuit that establishes and disconnects the electrical connection between the at least one solar panel and the electricity grid; and 
 wherein the solar panel installation further includes at least one converter, said at least one converter being located between the at least one solar panel and the electricity grid and electrically connected to both, and wherein said at least one converter converts a DC voltage of the at least one solar panel to an AC voltage to be supplied to the electricity grid, and 
 wherein the third circuit interrupts the electrical connection between both the negative pole and the positive pole of the at least one solar panel and the converter when the regeneration voltage is applied between the at least one solar panel and the at least one supporting structure. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one power meter is in communication with at least one controller, wherein said at least one controller adjusts the regeneration voltage applied by the at least one voltage supply on the basis of the power draw determined by the at least one power meter. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one power meter is in communication with at least one controller, wherein said at least one controller continuously adjusts the regeneration voltage applied by the at least one voltage supply on the basis of the power draw determined by the at least one power meter. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the regeneration voltage is an AC voltage. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the regeneration voltage is a DC voltage. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller verifies that the electrical connection between the at least one solar panel and the electricity grid is disconnected prior to the at least one voltage supply applying the regeneration voltage. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller actuates the apparatus based on whether it is day or night. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller actuates the apparatus based on predetermined times. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the AC voltage has an absolute value between 200 V and 1200 V and a frequency between 50 Hz and 50 KHz. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the DC voltage has an absolute value between 200 V and 1200 V. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that cyclically controls a regeneration of defects in the solar panels of the solar panel installation at periodic times by controlling application of the regeneration voltage by the at least one voltage supply and the first circuit, the second circuit, and third circuit. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one controller that collects data from the solar panel installation, and based on the collected data, the controller detects the defects in the solar panels. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said controller modifies the application of the regeneration voltage and the first circuit, the second circuit, and third circuit based on said collected data. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said controller receives power data of power drawn by the at least one solar panel from the at least one voltage supply, and said controller modifies the application of the regeneration voltage and the first circuit, the second circuit, and third circuit based on said power data. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one power meter is in communication with at least one controller, wherein said at least one controller adjusts a regeneration duration during which the regeneration voltage is applied by the at least one voltage supply on the basis of the power draw determined by the at least one power meter. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one power meter is in communication with at least one controller, wherein said at least one controller continuously adjusts a regeneration duration during which the regeneration voltage is applied by the at least one voltage supply on the basis of the power draw determined by the at least one power meter.